Variable degree vice

ABSTRACT

A base is provided for mounting on a worktable, or the like, and a mount is supported from the base for angular positioning relative thereto about a horizontal axis between limit positions rotated approximately 90* relative to each other. A turntable is supported on the mount for rotation about an axis disposed substantially at right angles relative to the axis of rotation of the mount and a pair of straight edge defining arms have one pair of adjacent ends pivotally secured to the turntable for swinging of the other pair of ends of the arms about axes generally paralleling the axis of rotation of the turntable relative to the mount. The free ends of the arms are interconnected for simultaneous and equal swinging toward and away from a line bisecting the included angle formed by the arms and the outer remote sides of the arms are opposed by abutment blocks guidingly supported from the turntable along pathes generally intersecting with and disposed normal to the axis of rotation of the turntable relative to the mount. Each of the abutment blocks is supported from a follower movable along the corresponding path and relative to which the abutment block may be angularly displaced about an axis generally paralleling the axis of rotation of the turntable relative to the mount. Further, the pathes along which the followers are movable are inclined generally 45* relative to a line bisecting the included angle formed by the arms and are disposed generally at right angles to each other. Elongated relatively angulated and intersecting framing members may be clampingly engaged between the abutment blocks and the corresponding arms for stationarily positioning the framing members in adjusted angular position relative to each other.

United States Patent 1191 Barton 1 1 VARIABLE DEGREE VICE Glen B. Barton. PO. Box 127, Calhoun City. Miss. 38916 [76] Inventor;

(52} U.S. Cl. 269/41; 269/73; 269/153 {51] Int. Cl 1325b H22 1581 Field of Search 269/41. 42, 45, 69, 70. 269/71872. 152. 153. 154. 155

[561 References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 451,089 4/1891 Wagoner 269/41 X 601L118 3/1898 Bruno v 269/41 X 1.247.758 11/1917 Watson 269/42 UX 1.286408 12/1918 Rayman 269/69 X 1.850695 3/1932 Scott 269/42 UX 2,495,438 111950 Bentley 269/70 2,595,137 4/1952 Hagopian.... 269/73 Dl62 433 3/1951 Normann 269/73 X Primary ExuminerRoy Lake Assistant Examiner-Mark S. Bicks Attorney, Agent, or FirmClarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A base is provided for mounting on a worktable, or the like, and a mount is supported from the base for angular positioning relative thereto about a horizontal 1 June 10, 1975 axis between limit positions rotated approximately 90 relative to each other. A turntable is supported on the mount for rotation about an axis disposed substantially at right angles relative to the axis of rotation of the mount and a pair of straight edge defining arms have one pair of adjacent ends pivotally secured to the turntable for swinging of the other pair of ends of the arms about axes generally paralleling the axis of rotation of the turntable relative to the mount. The free ends of the arms are interconnected for simultaneous and equal swinging toward and away from a line bisecting the included angle formed by the arms and the outer remote sides of the arms are opposed by abutment blocks guidingly supported from the turntable along pathes generally intersecting with and disposed normal to the axis of rotation of the turntable relative to the mount. Each of the abutment blocks is sup ported from a follower movable along the corresponding path and relative to which the abutment block may be angularly displaced about an axis generally paralleling the axis of rotation of the turntable relative to the mount. Further, the pathes along which the followers are movable are inclined generally 45 relative to a line bisecting the included angle formed by the arms and are disposed generally at right angles to each other. Elongated relatively angulated and intersecting framing members may be clampingly engaged between the abutment blocks and the corresponding arms for stationarily positioning the framing members in adjusted angular position relative to each other.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures VARIABLE DEGREE V lt'l'l BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many instances when adjacent framing members are to be secured together in relatively angu- Iated positions and in which the means to be utili/etl in securing the framing members together require that the framing members be precisely positioned in their adjusted relatively angulatcd positions and held in those positions during their securement together. Herctofore. many angle clamps and the like have been designed to accomplish similar functions. However. most of these angle clamps are capable of securing adjacent framing member ends together in only one predetermined relatively angulated position.

Accordingly. inasmuch as it is often desired to secure framing members together in various relatively angulated positions, the main object of this invention is to provide a variable degree clamp or vice which may be utilized to clamp adjacent framing member ends in various predetermined relatively angulatcd positions for securement of those adjacent framing member ends together while being held in the predetermined relatively angulated positions.

Another object of this invention in accordance with the immediately preceding object is to provide a variable degree vice constructed in a manner such that it may be used in horizontal position as well in a vertical position while the vice is supported from a horizontal surface or a vertical surface.

Another important object of this invention is to pro vide a variable degree vice constructed in a manner whereby it may be adjustably angularly positioned about vertical and horizontal axes when the vice is horizontally and vertically disposed. respectively.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a variable degree vice constructed in a manner whereby it may be utilized to clamp adjacent framing member ends in predetermined angulated positions even though the framing members do not include parallel opposite sides to be engaged by opposing jaw defining components of a clamp.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enu merated herein is to provide a variable degree vice in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed. reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the variable degree vice with alternate positions of the arm and opposing abutment block components of the vice illustrated in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the vice;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the vice as seen from the right side of FIG. I and with portions thereof being broken away and illustrated in vertical section;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional vievv taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary. vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIG. I: and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary. vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 66 of FIG. I.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more specifically to the drawings. the numeral I0 generally designates the variable degree vice of the instant invention.

The vice I0 includes a base referred to in general by the reference numeral 12, a mount referred to in general by the reference numeral I4 and oscillatable supported from the base for rotation about a horizontal axis between relatively angularly displaced positions displaced 90 apart. a turntable I6 rotatably supported from the mount for rotation about an axis disposed at right angles relative to the axis of rotation of the mount relative to the base and a pair of arms 18 having adjacent ends pivotally supported from the turntable for rotation about axes generally paralleling the axis of rotation of the turntable I6 relative to the mount 14.

The base 12 includes a horizontal mounting plate 20 which is suitably apertured and has fasteners 22 secured through the apertures for securing the mounting plate 20 to a suitable support surface 24. The base 20 further includes a pair of upstanding horizontally spaced apart flanges 26 and 28 interconnected and one pair of vertical edges by means of a transverse wall 30. A pair of aligned bores 32 and 34 are formed through the flanges 26 and 28 and the bores 32 and 34 are registered with a pair of corresponding bores 36 and 38 formed through opposite side depending flange portions 40 and 42 of the mount 14. The upper edges of the flanges 40 and 42 are interconnected by means of a circular horizontal bearing plate 46 having a central bore 48 formed therethrough and a horizontal partition 50 is also secured between the flanges 40 and 42 below the bearing plate 46. Still further. the mount 14 includes a rear wall 52 which is secured between the rear edges of the flanges 40 and 42 and has its upper end edge secured to the underside of the bearing plate 46. The partition 50 has a bore 54 formed therethrough in registry with the bore 48 and the turntable 16 has a bore 56 formed through its center in registry with the bores 54 and 48, a pivot fastener 58 being secured through the bores 48, 54 and 56 whereby the turntable 16 is rotatably supported from the bearing plate 46.

A pivot fastener 59 is secured through the bores 32, 34, 36 and 38 and thereby serves to pivotally support the mount 14 from the base 12. Also, the flange 40 has a bore 60 formed therethrough which is selectively registrable with bores 62 and 64 formed through the flange 26 in positions equally spaced from the bore 32 and angularly displaced 90 about the bore 62. A fastener 66 is provided and may be secured through the bore 60 and either the bore 62 or the bore 64 in order to retain the mount 14 in one of two angularly displaced positions of the mount I4 relative to the base 12.

The bearing plate 46 has a plurality of openings 70 formed therethrough spaced equally about and out wardly from the bore 54 and the turntable I6 has an 3 opening 72 formed therethrough which is selectively registrable with the bores 70.

A pair of arms 74 and 76 are secured at one pair of corresponding inner ends to outer periphery portions of the turntable 16 with the longitudinal center lines of the arms 74 and 76 lying substantially along radii of the pivot fastener 58 angularly displaced 90 relative to each other. A support table 78 is secured in horizontal position over the inner ends of the tubular arms 84 and a spring biased indexing pin 80 is supported from and slidable through the support table 78 with the lower end of the index pin disposed in the bore 72 and retractable from and extendible into selected bores 70 with which the bore 72 may be registered. In this man ner, the turntable 16 may be releasably secured in selected positions angularly displaced 45 apart.

The tubular arms 74 and 76 have screw members 84 and 86 journaled thcrethrough and the remote ends of the screw members 84 and 86 project outwardly of the corresponding ends of the arms 74 and 76 and have hand wheels 88 and 90 mounted thereon. In addition, each of the arms 74 and 76 is provided with a longitudinal slot 92 through its upper side and each screw member 84 and 86 has a follower 94 readily engaged thereon. Each follower 94 includes a rotatably supported upwardly projecting pivot pin 96 which projects through the corresponding slot 92 and has an abutment block 98 pivotally supported from its upper end. The abutment blocks 98 oppose the remote sides of the arms 18. the latter having one pair of corresponding ends pivotally supported from the table 78 by means of pivot fasteners 100. The free-swinging end portions of the arms 18 include depending pivot fasteners 102 which project downwardly through opposite side arcutate slots 103 formed in the table 78 about the pivot fasteners 100 and the lower ends of the pivot fasteners 102 are pivotally connected to corresponding ends of elongated links 104, the other pair of corresponding ends of the links 104 being pivotally supported from opposite portions of a slide member 106 by means of fasteners 108. The table 78 is provided with a slot 110 disposed in a plane passing through the center of the index pin 80 and bisecting the included angle formed between the arms 18. A fastener 112 includes an eniarged upper portion which overlies the table 78 on opposite sides of the slot 110, and intermediate portion which is slidably received in the slot 110 and a lower shank portion 114 which is secured through the slide member 106. The slide member 106 includes a spring biased index pin 118 supported therefrom and the upper end of the index pin 118 is retractable downwardly from and extendible upwardly into preselected blind bores 120 formed in the underside of the table 78 along one side of the slot 110. Accordingly. the indexing pin 118 may be downwardly retracted from one of the bores 120 and the slide member 106, which has an upwardly projecting handle 122 supported therefrom. may be moved along the slot 110 in order to simulta neously swing the arms 18 relative to the table 78.

In operation. a pair of framing members to be secured together at adjacent ends may be placed along the remote sides of the arms 18 after the relative angulation of the arms 18 has been pre-set by longitudinally shifting the slide member 106 along the slot 110. Then, after the framing members have been disposed along the remote sides of the arms 18, the hand wheels 88 and 90 may be turned so as to move the followers 94 and thus the abutment blocks 98 toward the framing members. Contact of the abutment blocks 98 with the remote sides of the framing members will. of course,

clamp the latter to the arms 18 and secure the framing members in position while the adjacent ends thereof are secured together.

The table 78 is notched as at 124 on its forward side so that the adjacent ends of framing members to be secured together will project outwardly from the notched marginal edge portion of the table 78 and be accessible both from above and below. Further. by positioning the arms 74 and 76 in the manner illustrated. the hand wheels 88 may be readily operated by the left and right hands of a person facing the notch 124 from the corresponding side of the table 78. Of course, the arms 18 are adjustable between positions defining an included angle of approximately o and positions defining an included angle of approximately l40o.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a base including a pair of upstanding generally parallel flange means, a horizontal bearing plate means secured across the upper ends of said flange means, a horizontal brace extending between and secured to the portions of the upper end portions of said flange means spaced below the upper terminal ends thereof with said brace spaced below said bearing plate means, a generally horizontal turntable overlying said bearing plate means and pivotally supported therefrom by means of vertical pivot fastener means secured through said turntable, bearing plate means and brace, said turntable and bearing plate means including coact ing retaining means operative to releasably retain said turntable in selected predetermined angularly displaced positions relative to said bearing plate means, said base including a lower mounting portion adapted for stationary mounting from a support structure, said flange means including a first pair of upstanding lower flanges fixed relative to said lower mounting portion and a second pair of upper upstanding flanges between which said brace is secured, means pivotally securing corresponding pairs of said flanges together for relative oscillation about coinciding horizontal axes, means connected between said upper and lower flanges releasably retaining said upper and lower flanges in selected predetermined angularly displaced positions, a generally horizontal table, mounting means stationarily supporting said table from and above said turntable in vertically spaced relation relative thereto, a pair of relatively angulated horizontal arms overlying the upper surface of said table and oscillatably supported at adjacent ends from said table for swinging of the other pair of ends of said arms about axes generally normal and fixed relative to said table and arms toward and away from a line bisecting the included angle formed by said arms, and a pair of followers guidingly supported from said table and spaced outwardly from the remote sides of said arms for movement toward and away from the latter along paths disposed at generally right angles rel ative to each other and generally equally angulated relative to said line, said followers having abutment blocks overlying the upper surface of said table and pivotally supported from said followers for relative angular displacement about axes generally paralleling the axes of swinging movement of said arms said abutment blocks including abutment surfaces opposing the remote sides of said arms feed means operativclg, connected be tween said table and said followers for adjustabl displacing said followers along said paths said mounting means including a pair of tubular sleeves extending along said paths and sandwiched between. rigidly se cured to and horizontally spacing said turntable and table said feed means including a threaded feed screw journaled longitudinally in each sleeve. said follower means being threaded on said feed screws. said table including elongated slots formed therein extending along said paths, said followers including upwardly projecting pivot pin portions projecting through and slidingly received in said slots said abutment blocks being oscillatably mounted on said pivot pin portions, said table further including arcuatc slots formed therein having the axes of oscillation of said arms as their centers, depending pivot fastener means carried by the reill mote ends of said arms and projecting downwardly through said arcuate slots, actuating links disposed in the space between said table and turntable and having a first pair of ends pivotally attached to the lower portions of said pivot fastener means projecting below said table. a straight slot formed in said table generally bisecting the included angle of said arms. a slide member guidingly and slidingly received in said straight slot and including portions projecting above and below said table. the other pair of ends of said actuating links being pivotally attached to the portion of said slide member projecting below said table for equal and opposite angular displacement of said arms relative to said table in response to oscillation of said slide member in said straight slot. the spacing between said table and turntable providing operating space for said actuating links below said table.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said slide member and table include coacting means accessible from above said table operative to lock said arms in predetermined adjustably swung positions. 

1. In combination, a base including a pair of upstanding generally parallel flange means, a horizontal bearing plate means secured across the upper ends of said flange means, a horizontal brace extending between and secured to the portions of the upper end portions of said flange means spaced below the upper terminal ends thereof with said brace spaced below said bearing plate means, a generally horizontal turntable overlying said bearing plate means and pivotally supported therefrom by means of vertical pivot fastener means secured through said turntable, bearing plate means and brace, said turntable and bearing plate means including coacting retaining means operative to releasably retain said turntable in selected predetermined angularly displaced positions relative to said bearing plate means, said base including a lower mounting portion adapted for stationary mounting from a support structure, said flange means including a first pair of upstanding lower flanges fixed relative to said lower mounting portion and a second pair of upper upstanding flanges between which said brace is secured, means pivotally securing corresponding pairs of said flanges together for relative oscillation about coinciding horizontal axes, means connected between said upper and lower flanges releasably retaining said upper and lower flanges in selected predetermined angularly displaced positions, a generally horizontal table, mounting means stationarily supporting said table from and above said turntable in vertically spaced relation relative thereto, a pair of relatively angulated horizontal arms overlying the upper surface of said table and oscillatably supported at adjacent ends from said table for swinging of the other pair of ends of said arms about axes generally normal and fixed relative to said table and arms toward and away from a line bisecting the included angle formed by said arms, and a pair of followers guidingly supported from said table and spaced outwardly from the remote sides of said arms for movement toward and away from the latter along paths disposed at generally right angles relative to each other and generally equaLly angulated relative to said line, said followers having abutment blocks overlying the upper surface of said table and pivotally supported from said followers for relative angular displacement about axes generally paralleling the axes of swinging movement of said arms, said abutment blocks including abutment surfaces opposing the remote sides of said arms, feed means operatively connected between said table and said followers for adjustably displacing said followers along said paths, said mounting means including a pair of tubular sleeves extending along said paths and sandwiched between, rigidly secured to and horizontally spacing said turntable and table, said feed means including a threaded feed screw journaled longitudinally in each sleeve, said follower means being threaded on said feed screws, said table including elongated slots formed therein extending along said paths, said followers including upwardly projecting pivot pin portions projecting through and slidingly received in said slots, said abutment blocks being oscillatably mounted on said pivot pin portions, said table further including arcuate slots formed therein having the axes of oscillation of said arms as their centers, depending pivot fastener means carried by the remote ends of said arms and projecting downwardly through said arcuate slots, actuating links disposed in the space between said table and turntable and having a first pair of ends pivotally attached to the lower portions of said pivot fastener means projecting below said table, a straight slot formed in said table generally bisecting the included angle of said arms, a slide member guidingly and slidingly received in said straight slot and including portions projecting above and below said table, the other pair of ends of said actuating links being pivotally attached to the portion of said slide member projecting below said table for equal and opposite angular displacement of said arms relative to said table in response to oscillation of said slide member in said straight slot, the spacing between said table and turntable providing operating space for said actuating links below said table.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said slide member and table include coacting means accessible from above said table operative to lock said arms in predetermined adjustably swung positions. 